Alternating-current switch.



F. W. SMTH & L. LARSEN.

ALTERNATING CURRENT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907.

1,081,387. Patented July 2,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR i w Ww@ WITNESSES:

F. W. SMITH & L. LARSEN. ALTBRNATING CURRENT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907.

1,031,387. Patented July 2,191.2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E'. W. SMITH & L. LARSEN.

ALTERNATING CURRENT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907. 1,031,387. Patented' July 2, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoEy FRANK W. SMITH AND LOUIS LARSEN, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

ALTERNATING-CURRENT SWITCH.

Patented July 2, 1912. Serial No. 375,591.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, FRANK W. SMITH and LomsLARSEN, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in thecounty 5 of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Alternating-Current Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to an electromagnet operated by an alternatingcurrent to control circuit closing switches, or other mechanism.

The invention consists in apparatus wherein the movable core of theelectromagnet after actuating the said mechanism through a movableabutment in its path assumes a position of equilibrium at a pointdistant from said abutment and does not transmit thereto vibrations dueto current alternations in the magnet coil; also wherein a loose jointis interposed in the transmitting mechanism between movable core anddevice actuated thereby, whereby said core is permitted to vibrate undercurrent alternations without imparting motion to said device; also inthe construction of 'the circuit closing switch and alternating currentmagnet hereinafter particularly described, wherein my said invention isspeciiically embodied.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a front view of the apparatustaken in the direction of the arrow a, and in section on the line m ofFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section on the line y yof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view with the bracket 58 removed and theslotted bar 19 in horizontal section. In this figure also, for the sakeof clearness, the pins 21, 32, and the sleeves and clamping devicescarried thereby are omitted.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.

1 is the supporting plate, usually of slate. Secured thereto by bolts 2passing through suitable lugs are two parallel cast iron frames 3,connected by the transverse bolts 4 and receiving between them therectangular frame 5 of laminated iron. Disposed between the frames 3, 5,is the electromagnet 6 which is held firmly in position by means of theupper set screws 7 and lower set screws 8 passing through lugs in frames3. rThe magnet core 9 is made of laminations and 1s rectangular in crosssection. It is clamped between two brass guide bars 10 and l1, which attheir lower ends are secured to the block 12, against which the lowerextremity of said core bears. The upper ends of the guide bars receivebetween them, and are respectively secured to, lugs 13, which are formedintegral with and depend downwardly from the circular cap plate 14.

In the upper and lower members of frames 3 and 5 are openings in whichthe core 9 with its guide bars 10, 11, freely slides, and bolted to theupper side of the upper members and to the lower side of the lowermembers of frames 3 are fixed guide plates 16, having recesses toreceive the said slidin guide bars lO and 11. The object of the fixedguide plates 16 and the guide bars 10, 11, is to ensure the placing ofthe core symmetrically with respect to its inclosing frame and itsmovement in a right line. To the under side of the plate 14l is secureda washer 17 of leather or other elastic material. On the upper side ofsaid plate is a dovetail recess in which is a block 18 of rubber orother elastic material. Extending upwardly from the front side of saidplate is a bar 19, (Fig. 2) in which is a vertical slot 20.

Supported on a pin 21 passing through the back plate and secured bynuts, is a sleeve 23, having an offset 24. From said offsetextends a pin25, which carries three cylindrical spacing disks 26, 27', 28. A nut 29on the threaded end of pin 25 clamps disks 26, 27, 28, together. Betweendisks 26, 27, is held the end of a leaf spring 30, which at itsextremity carries a contact piece 31. On the opposite side of theelectromagnet is a pin 32 passing through the back plate and secured bynuts 33 on which is a sleeve 34 having an offset 35. From said offsetextends a pin 36, which carries three cylindrical spacing disks 37, 38,39. A nut 40 on the threaded end of pin 36 clamps disks 37, 38, 39,together. Between disks 37, 38, is held the end of a leaf spring 41,which at its extremity carries a contact piece 42. The Contact pieces 31and 42 make contact with carbon blocks 43 and 44, secured by screws 45,46, to standards 47 and 48, which standards are secured to the backplate 1 by pins 49 and 50, and nuts 51. Fast on the sleeves 23 and 34are arms 52 and 53. To t-he arm 53 is pivoted an arm 54, which is forkedat its end to receive the extremity of the arm 55 pivoted to arm 52. Apin 56 passes through the extremity of arm 55, the forked ends of arm 54and extends through the slot 2O in bar 19. A. toggle joint is thusformed between arms 52 and 53. Secured to the back plate 1, by pin 57and nut, is a bracket 58, on the under side of the end of which is adovetail recess which receives a block 59 of rubber or other elasticmaterial. The rubber block 59 is directly above the toggle joint, andthe rubber block 18 is direct-ly below said joint.

When the electromagnet 6 is denergized the core 9 descends to its lowestposition, the washer 17 then resting on the guide plates 16 and thelevers and contact sprlngs taking the position shown in dotted lines,Fig. 1. lVhen alternating current is established in the electromagnetthe core rises. The lower edge of the slot 20 in bar 19 then strikes amovable abutment, namely the toggle joint, carrying said joint upwardand to the position shown in full lines Fig. 1. ,that is with the centerof the toggle pin 56 a little above a horizontal line joining thecenters of the pivot pins connecting arms 52, 55, and 53, 54. The uppersurface of the fork at the end of arm 54 then meets the rubber stop 59,which yields, and so vprevents shock. The core 9 then falls back to aposition of equilibrium, which it retains as long as current ismaintained in the magnet coil.

By reason of the described parts having been brought to the positionstated the springs 30 and 41 are moved into contact with the carbonblocks 43 and 44, thus establishing circuit from terminal A secured inany suitable way between spacing disks 26, 27, on pin 25, through spring30 to block 43 and so to terminal B connected to screw 45, and also fromterminal C secured in any suitable way between spacing disks 38, 39, onpin 36, through spring 41 to block 44 and so to terminal D, connected toscrew 46.

It will be obvious that by this construction all vibrating movement ofthe core due to current alternations in the magnet coil is preventedfrom reaching the contacts closed between springs 30 and 41, and carbonblocks 43, 44: since such movement merely causes an up and down travelof the bar 19 upon the pin 56 which is permitted by the slot 20receiving said pin, and hence through the loose joint thus afforded nomotion is transmitted to the pin itself.

When current is interrupted in the magnet coil, core 9 drops. The upperedge of slot 20 in bar 19, then strikes toggle pin 56, 65

forcing said in downward'and so bringing the parts bac to the positionshown in dotted lines,'Fig. 1. The lower side of the toggle jointstrikes the rubber block 18 in descending, which block yields andprevents shock.

We claim:

1. An electromagnet, a free movable core, a device actuated by saidcore, transmitting mechanism between said core and said device, andconstructed to be operated by said core on said core reaching a movableabutment in its path, and means for magnetically equilibrating said coreat a point distant from said abutment after said device shall have beenoperated.

2. An electromagnet, a free movable core, a device actuated by saidcore, transmitting mechanism between said core and said device andconstructed to be operated by said core on said core reaching a movableabutment in its path, means for retaining said device in operatedposition and means for magnetically equilibrating said core at a pointdistant from said abutment after said device shall have been operated.

3. An electromagnet, a free movable core, a device actuated by saidcore, transmitting mechanism between said core and said device andconstructed to be operated bysaid core, on said core reaching a movableabutment in its path, means controlled by said core for retaining saiddevice in operated position and means for magnetically equilibratingsaid core at a point distant from said abutment after said device shallhave been, operated.

4. An electromagnet, a free movable core, a circuit closer actuated bysaid core, transmitting mechanism between said core and said circuitcloser and constructed to be operatd'lyrsaidscore, on said core reachinga movable abutment in its path, means controlled by said core forretaining said circuit closer in closed position and means formagnetically equilibrating said core at a point distant from saidmovable abutment after said circuit closer shall have been operated.

5. The combination of an electromagnet, a longitudinally movable coretherein, pivoted sleeves on opposite sides of the path of movement ofsaid core, a toggle joint connection between said sleeves, a platehaving an elongated vertical slot supported on said core, the slot insaid plate receiving the pin of said toggle joint, cont-act armssupported on said sleeves and iixed contacts disposed in the path ofmovement of said arms: the aforesaid parts being constructed so thatupon alternating current being established in said electromagnet, saidtoggle connection shall be raised to vibrate said sleeves and therebybring said arms into Contact with said xed contacts, and thereafter uponsaid core assuming an equilibrated position n said magnet, said plateshall be moved up and down upon said pin Without imparting mot-ionthereto by the Vibration of the core due to current alternatons in theelectromagnet coil.

FRANK W. SMTH. LOUIS LARSEN.

Witnesses GERTRUDE T. PORTER,

H. I. SHLRE.

